COP 21

Earth
Negotiations
Bulletin
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #10
A Reporting Service for Environment and Development Negotiations
Online at http://www.iisd.ca/climate/cop21/enb/

Vol. 12 No. 661

Published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)

Thursday, 10 December 2015

PARIS HIGHLIGHTS:
WEDNESDAY, 9 DECEMBER 2015

In the evening, COP 21 President Laurent Fabius outlined the

purpose of the meeting as agreeing on the method of work for
the evening and Thursday, 10 December, and allowing parties to
On Wednesday, 9 December, negotiations advanced under
express initial reactions on the new text.
the COP Presidency on the draft Paris outcome. At 3:00pm
On organization of work, he proposed that he would facilitate
the Comit de Paris convened for the presentation of a revised
an indaba focusing on the cross-cutting issues of differentiation,
version of the draft Paris outcome. The session was then
finance and ambition. He identified loss and damage, response
immediately closed to allow for parties to review and consult on
measures, cooperative approaches and mechanisms, and
the text. At 8:00pm the Comit reconvened to hear parties first
preamble as issues still requiring work, proposing that COP 20
impressions on the text.
President Pulgar-Vidal facilitate a single consultation on these
Consultations continued throughout the night in an indaba
issues, meeting in parallel with the indaba.
and a consultation, the first on differentiation, finance and
COP 21 President Fabius proposed a new version of the text
ambition, facilitated by COP 21 President Laurent Fabius, and
be prepared by early afternoon on Thursday, 10 December.
the second on other issues still requiring work, such as loss
Noting time pressure relating to legal and linguistic review, he
and damage, response measures, cooperative approaches and
proposed that parties agree to submit already clean text in the
mechanisms, and preamble, facilitated by COP 20 President
final agreement clauses to the open-ended group of legal and
Manuel Pulgar-Vidal (Peru).
linguistic experts.
Contact groups and informal consultations continued
He called on parties not to reopen compromises that had
throughout the day under the COP and CMP to finalize decisions
already been reached and instead focus on issues where work
on their agenda items.
still remains.
Parties supported using the text as the basis for work.
COMIT DE PARIS
However, some noted the text remains unbalanced and many
In the afternoon, COP 21 President Laurent Fabius informed
outlined their areas of concern.
parties that, as agreed on Tuesday, 8 December, the Secretariat
South Africa, for the G-77/CHINA, and Egypt, for the
would distribute a new version of the draft Paris outcome,
AFRICAN GROUP, expressed concern on delinking textual
saying the text: is inspired by the ADP draft Paris outcome
from Saturday, 5 December; incorporates ministerial facilitators language from the Convention and dilution of Convention
principles, particularly on differentiation.
recommendations; and draws from ADP co-facilitators
On differentiation, INDIA called for balance between
suggestions and experience. He explained the 29-page text,
ambition and differentiation, correctly reflecting the principles
which contains three-fourths fewer brackets than the previous
draft, aims to provide an overview of progress made and identify of the Convention, and operationalizing differentiation in all
clear options on three cross-cutting issues still to be settled at the the elements. Malaysia, for the LMDCs, with BOLIVIA and
NICARAGUA, emphasized capturing CBDR.
political level.
VIET NAM described CDBR and differentiation as gateways
On progress made, he said compromise or significant progress
to
greater
ambition. BOLIVIA called for including historical
had been made on capacity building, adaptation, transparency,
responsibility
and the right to development. VENEZUELA
and technology development and transfer. He noted initial
called
for
a
package
deal that addresses differentiation.
progress had been made on forests, cooperative approaches and
GEORGIA emphasized equal treatment of transparency
mechanisms, and preamble, and that progress on adaptation
among parties and clear accounting rules as important for
would enable parties to focus on loss and damage.
building trust. Australia, for the UMBRELLA GROUP, noted the
On the remaining political issues, COP 21 President Fabius
text leaves differentiation to be resolved.
identified differentiation, financing and the level of ambition of
On support, the G-77/CHINA lamented a lack of adequate
the agreement. He encouraged parties to scale up consultations
reassurances
on MOI. Angola, for the LDCs, highlighted the
on these. After requesting the Secretariat to distribute the new
need
to
ensure
access to finance. The AFRICAN GROUP noted
text, he proposed, and parties agreed, that the Comit de Paris
concern
on
the
reflection of individual commitments without
reconvene at 8:00pm.
references to support.

This issue of the Earth Negotiations Bulletin <enb@iisd.org> is written and edited by Jennifer Allan, Beate Antonich, Rishikesh Ram Bhandary,
Mari Luomi, Ph.D., Anna Schulz and Virginia Wiseman. The Digital Editor is Kiara Worth. The Editor is Pamela Chasek, Ph.D. <pam@iisd.org>.
The Director of IISD Reporting Services is Langston James Kimo Goree VI <kimo@iisd.org>. The Sustaining Donors of the Bulletin are the
European Union, the Government of Switzerland (the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), the Swiss Agency for Developmentand
Cooperation (SDC)), and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. General Support for the Bulletin during 2015 is provided by the German Federal Ministry
for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB), the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, SWAN
International, the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Japanese Ministry of Environment (through the Institute for Global Environmental
Strategies - IGES), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). Specific
funding for coverage of this conference has been provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the European Union (EU), the Austrian Federal Ministry
of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment, and Water Management, and the Ministry of the Environment of Finland. Funding for translation of the http://enb.iisd.mobi/
Bulletin into French has been provided by the Government of France, the Wallonia, Qubec, and the International Organization of La Francophonie/Institute for Sustainable
Development of La Francophonie (IOF/IFDD). The opinions expressed in the Bulletin are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of IISD or other donors.
Excerpts from the Bulletin may be used in non-commercial publications with appropriate academic citation. For information on the Bulletin, including requests to provide
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The EU underlined that after 2020, countries in a position to

do so should join in increasing financial flows to countries in
need. Saudi Arabia, for the ARAB GROUP, further expressed
concern with references to those in a position to do so.
The PHILIPPINES called for ensuring pre- and post-2020
adaptation finance through quantitative goals. BELARUS
welcomed the reflection of the interests of countries that need
support, including those with economies in transition.
TIMOR LESTE said developed countries should commit
to provision of MOI to LDCs. SOUTH SUDAN emphasized
the need for developed countries to provide new, additional,
predictable, sustainable and verifiable finances.
The DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO suggested
that financing to address deforestation and degradation of humid
tropical forests be at levels equivalent to their share of global
GHG emissions. BANGLADESH asked for special consideration
of LDCs and SIDS to be reintroduced in Article 6 (finance).
On ambition, Maldives, for AOSIS, with Barbados, for the
CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY (CARICOM), COSTA RICA,
MALI, SAMOA, ECUADOR, the PHILIPPINES, BOLIVIA and
SAINT LUCIA, stressed a below 1.5C goal as critical. PALAU
said the agreement must send a quantitative signal to the world
on where we need to be mid-century.
The EU expressed concern that the mechanism to raise
ambition over time had been significantly weakened.
INDONESIA expressed preference for a 2C limit, but said it
was willing to work on another realistic and implementable
threshold.
MOROCCO supported holding the global average temperature
below 2C above pre-industrial levels, while scaling up efforts to
limit temperature increase to below 1.5C.
On preamble, general and objective, Guatemala, for AILAC,
with NORWAY, said the agreement should include references
to gender issues, intergenerational matters and, with CHILE,
the PHILIPPINES and MEXICO, human rights. NORWAY
also suggested reference to health, just transition and, with
CANADA, indigenous peoples rights.
NIGERIA called for including the Sustainable Development
Goals alongside the reference to sustainable development.
The PHILIPPINES called for ensuring integrity of a variety of
ecosystems. INDONESIA called for equal recognition of the
rights of local communities.
VIET NAM and MEXICO called for including gender
equality. TANZANIA cautioned against referencing human rights
which could be used as barrier to access support.
On mitigation, AILAC supported a quantified or quantifiable
unilateral component in features under the mitigation article.
The ARAB GROUP, called for the reinstatement of adaptation
co-benefits coming in the form of mitigation.
The ARAB GROUP underscored that any goal that threatens
their sustainable development, or ability to eradicate poverty
and ensure food security will not be acceptable. The LMDCs
expressed concern on language on NDMCs. The PHILIPPINES
called for a mitigation goal that ensures full decarbonization by
2050.
On unilateral measures, the G-77/CHINA and the LMDCs
expressed concern on the lack of text on this issue. The ARAB
GROUP and the LMDCs opposed reference to carbon pricing.
On REDD+, CARICOM supported anchoring agreed
COP decisions on REDD+ in the agreement. Panama, for
the COALITION FOR RAINFOREST NATIONS, with
CAMEROON, underscored the importance to launch a
REDD+ mechanism in the Paris agreement.

PAKISTAN called for sending a strong signal that REDD+ is

complete and ready to be implemented.
On adaptation, the G-77/CHINA lamented that many
proposals were missing from the text. The AFRICAN GROUP
noted key elements to operationalize the global goal on
adaptation were missing. AILAC and CHILE called for a registry
of adaptation actions.
On loss and damage, the G-77/CHINA, with VIET NAM and
HAITI, emphasized the need for a distinct article on loss and
damage. AILAC called for progress on loss and damage.
Maldives, for AOSIS, underscored that ongoing work among
parties would result in new language on loss and damage. The
EU stressed that the formulation on loss and damage is deeply
problematic. TIMOR LESTE called for a standalone mechanism
for loss and damage.
On circumstances of the most vulnerable, CARICOM,
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, BELIZE and SAINT LUCIA
highlighted the special circumstances of SIDS, noting this
reality is not negotiable, and said that arrangements for loss
and damage are crucial.
EL SALVADOR and NICARAGUA called for the agreement
to recognize the Central American isthmus as a particularly
vulnerable area. BHUTAN, with NEPAL, regretted the specific
needs of the LDCs had been diminished in the operative articles
of the text and called for including countries with fragile
mountainous ecosystems in any listing of vulnerable countries.
NIGERIA called for inclusion of Africa. GUINEA stressed
referencing other vulnerable countries and regions.
On cycles, the UMBRELLA GROUP and PALAU emphasized
five-year cycles for reporting and review. COLOMBIA supported
a mechanism to increase ambition through periodic presentation
of commitments starting in 2021.
On entry into force, the EU, JAPAN and the ARAB GROUP
noted that entry into force lacks a double threshold.
On decision text, AOSIS said a bracketed decision paragraph
on a facilitative dialogue among parties to take stock of
collective efforts in 2018 or 2019 must be included in the final
decision to ensure the 1.5C temperature goal stays within reach.
Parties also highlighted areas for further work, with
Switzerland, for the EIG, identifying, inter alia, a mandatory
provision for nationally determined mitigation contributions
(NMDCs) and internationally transferred mitigation outcomes.
The LDCs said further work is needed on compliance to ensure
implementation.
The UMBRELLA GROUP stressed developed countries
continued assurances to continue to lead in the context of a
universal agreement in which all parties do their best.
China, for BASIC, welcomed the text as open and balanced,
and indicated willingness to work towards an outcome that
reflects fairness and ambition.
The LMDCs underscored progress under workstream 2 as
fundamental for progress under workstream 1.
The EU lamented that some key parts of the agreement had
been moved to decisions.
Special Envoy with Observer Organizations Manuel PulgarVidal reported on issues of high importance for observers,
including: differentiation; market mechanisms; access of
observers and transparency; long-term goals; long-term finance;
and raising ambition of developed countries.
Parties agreed to the mode of work proposed at the beginning
of the session. COP 21 President Fabius asked parties to begin
work on compromises, anticipating that the penultimate draft
text should be ready in the afternoon on Thursday, 10 December.

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COP 21
CONTACT GROUP: Climate Finance Items (a-b): In
the morning, on the issue of long-term finance, contact group
Co-Chair Andrs Mogro (Ecuador) noted time constraints
prevented parties from tackling political issues that required
further consideration, such as MRV of finance, biennial updates
and private sector climate finance, and highlighted the draft
decisions minimalist structure. Co-Chair Mogro proposed, and
parties agreed, to forward the draft decision to the COP for
consideration.
On the report of the SCF, contact group Co-Chair Mark Storey
(Sweden) presented a draft decision for adoption, based on
consultations carried out by the Co-Chairs. Parties then agreed
on the need to approve the SCFs work plan and continue work
on reviewing the functions of the SCF.
Co-Chair Storey proposed reflecting issues that had not been
discussed due to time limitations in the report of the COP. Parties
agreed to refer to recommendations of the SCF based on the
conclusions of the SCF forum. Parties agreed to send the draft
decision, as amended, to the COP for consideration.
Climate Finance Items (c-d): In the afternoon, parties
considered draft decision texts proposed by Co-Chairs Stefan
Schwager (Switzerland) and Nauman Bashir Bhatti (Pakistan).
On the report of the GEF to the COP and guidance to the
GEF, parties developed compromise language welcoming the
investments by the GEF in sustainable forest management
and other activities referred to, harnessing multiple benefits
from forests, and tackling deforestation and forest degradation.
Parties debated whether to delete a proposal by ARGENTINA,
URUGUAY and COLOMBIA on tackling the drivers of
deforestation and forest degradation.
On support for the NAP process through contributions to the
LDCF and the Special Climate Change Fund, CHINA, supported
by INDIA and MALAYSIA, proposed deleting language inviting
parties that may make voluntary financial contributions
to provide such support. The EU, with JAPAN and the US,
suggested deletion of the whole paragraph if it lacks agreement.
Zambia, for the LDCs, opposed.
On the report of the GCF to the COP and guidance to the
GCF, JAPAN said it is premature to discuss replenishment and
suggested deleting a request to the GCF Board to agree on
replenishment arrangements. South Africa, for the AFRICAN
GROUP, Bolivia, for the G-77/CHINA, and Antigua and
Barbuda, for AOSIS, opposed.
On a paragraph noting that funding decisions by the GCF
projects will contribute to low-emission and climate-resilient
development, ARGENTINA, opposed by the EU, suggested
referencing sustainable development instead. Parties continued
consultations informally.

Thursday, 10 December 2015

On a paragraph inviting the CDM EB to host a workshop,

back to back with SB 44, with international climate financing
institutions, after consulting informally, parties agreed to an
alternative proposal inviting the CDM EB to consider hosting an
in-session workshop at SB 44, taking into account a request for
the CDM EB to ensure transparent and prudent management of
the resources of the CDM.
Parties then agreed to forward the draft decision to the CMP.

IN THE CORRIDORS
On Wednesday afternoon, plenary La Seine filled with
anticipation and excitement as parties waited for COP 21
President Laurent Fabius to reveal the new clean text.
Immediately after receiving their copies, delegates poured over
the text. As some optimists had expected, the positive spirit
prevailed throughout the afternoon Comit de Paris meeting,
surprising some observers accustomed to drama as a regular
feature of climate COPs.
Most delegates remained in full praise of the Presidency,
commending their work with the facilitators and Secretariat to
finish the text lasting into the wee hours of Wednesday morning.
One negotiator explained the positive mood was a result of
the Presidency involving the ministers early and often in the
process, which built relationships and facilitated constructive
conversations on sticking points.
Pointing out that the three remaining political issues,
differentiation, finance and ambition, are more than small
details, one long-time observer noted that some brackets are
more stubborn than others. Others eyes initially spotted phrases
that raised eyebrows, either negatively or positively depending
on their perspective, like per capita emissions and respect for
indigenous peoples rights.
Still, some close to the ministerial process seemed confident,
saying that the agreement should be quite agreeable to
parties if they manage to zoom out to see the bigger picture.
Speculating on the evening, one delegate hoped the good
mood would not be ephemeral, calling Wednesday evening the
defining moment of the second week.
To witness that defining moment, delegates again flowed into
La Seine in the evening. Many offered cautious optimism, with
one saying that all the elements are here, and relatively well
balanced. Another cited the quite clean text on workstream 2.
The first round of applause was for the G-77/Chinas
statement that the text formed an acceptable basis for
negotiations. While there seemed to be a never-ending stream of
groups and parties concerns with the text, their overwhelming
general acceptance of the text as the basis for further work
represented to some a collective sigh of relief.
However, one delegate cautioned against assuming that if
everyone expresses concerns, that the text is indeed balanced.
CMP 11
Some also worried parties were regressing to stated positions.
CONTACT GROUP: Issues Relating to the CDM: In
Leaving La Seine for the two midnight sessions announced by
the morning, a contact group co-chaired by Jeffery Spooner
COP 21 President Fabius, many looked ahead to some political
(Jamaica) focused on draft text produced on Tuesday evening,
deals occurring in the coming hours. As they entered into the
8 December. Parties discussed six paragraphs that still remained
midnight consultations, one group of delegates hoped Friday
bracketed.
would be a day of rest, while the legal and linguistic group
On a paragraph on encouraging the CDM Executive Board
reviews the text.
(EB) to explore opportunities for financing through international
However, with COP 21 President Fabius describing the next
climate financing institutions to foster the use of the CDM,
iteration of the text, expected for Thursday afternoon, as the
parties agreed to keep a reference to the GCF while removing to penultimate text, many delegates wondered if their hopes of
foster the use of the CDM.
Paris being an exceptional COP in terms of timeliness could still
materialize.